The Kello Show

...with a capital "T" and that rhymes with "E," which stands for "energy," which I have little of these days.
So, our little munchkin has a cold (Oh, the guilt! Do we take her out too much? Did we let someone hold her who was sick?). She started feeling yucky on Tuesday night. Her eyes were all watery and she was congested. So, for the last few nights, she has been waking up every two hours or so. Mostly, she snorts and then coughs or whines, and I run to pick her up because I'm paranoid. I spoke with the doctor's office and they said no need to worry. Just use a humidifier and elevate her head. Check. So, she's starting to feel better, but this not sleeping has got me thinking about sleep. A lot.
I wonder if our sleep routine is "normal." I hate the word "normal" when it comes to babies, because they're all different. But, who are we kidding? We compare anyway.
So, this is the nightly routine for us, give or take half an hour:
7:30 breastfeed
8:00 bath
8:30 bottle with daddy (this one gets her good and full for a longer sleep stretch)
9:00 humming and rocking with mommy
9:30 if the humming and rocking didn't work out so well, top off of breastfeeding and then more humming and rocking
She's usually down by 9:30, but often 10:00. I would love to get her to go down a little earlier, so Kell and I can do the things we like to do, but never can find time to (Sewing for me, and writing for Kelly). But, even if we bump the routine up a little, I'm still rocking and humming until 9:30.
Then, she wakes up somewhere between 1:00 and 3:00 and then again between 4:00 and 6:00 and is usually up for the day between 8:00 and 9:00. It's not too bad, really, except for this last week. I feel worked.
So, anyone want to come for a sleepover? MommyBrain? You can bring ToddlerBrain. SupahMommy? BroadBrains? Bueller? Bueller? I promise to save the 3:00 AM feeding for you. And, Hannah's room is really comfy.

Today our girl is 8 weeks old. She is really strong and smart (don’t all parents say that?). Here’s what she’s up to these days:

• She sits up against her Boppy.
• She loves to have us sing to her. Kell and I make up all kinds of crazy songs for her, often involving lyrics like “Bella Girl loves Hannah Beth” and “Mommy wears her glasses at night” and “Daddy loves to kiss the baby” and "I'm a duck, quack, quack." You know, whatever seems pertinent at the time.
• Two nights ago, she went down at 10:30 and slept until 4:00. Wow! But, then last night, she was back to every 3 hours. You win some; you lose some.
• She can hold her rattle and shakes it, but it’s completely unintentional.
• She loves mirrors. When I change her in the bathroom, she turns her head to watch me in the mirror.
• She will copy what you do. If I stick out my tongue, she tries to stick hers out (and she’s pretty successful).
  
• Kelly swears she says things like, "Momma," "no," and "Hannah." I don't have the heart to tell him that's just how babies cry.
  
• She recognizes Kelly and me and smiles in response to us. This has to be the coolest thing ever. Melts my heart every time.

Yesterday, Hannah went for her first hike. We went up to Wildwood to hike along the Salmon River. It was lovely. The trail was really well maintained and there is even an underwater viewing area ala Sea World. Hannah slept the whole time in the sling (thank you, Aunt Jackie!). Bella had a blast splashing in the river. It was so much fun.

Speaking of birthdays (What?!? We weren't speaking of birthdays? Oh well!)... my 30th was yesterday, hence the day off for Kelly and the hiking. It started with breakfast -- chocolate chip pancakes and bacon -- then the hike, then Kell made dinner (meatloaf, at my request -- he makes the best meatloaf). We even watched Pride & Prejudice, which I've seen at least a million times and still love. Jane Austen rocks. And, Kell got me a gym membership and an offer to watch the girl for a couple of hours so I can hit the gym. That is so awesome. It was the best birthday ever.

Hannah is six weeks old now and getting bigger. She is finally filling out the newborn clothes and we might even be able to start putting her in 0-3 month stuff. It's been too big thus far.
While I'm on the topic of clothes, perhaps Carter's can explain something to me: Sleepers. They fit her in length (maybe even a tiny bit short). You can fit another whole baby in around the waist. And, the arms are insanely long. Who are these long-armed fatty shorties that Carters designs for? I'm sure other people have other issues, which makes me wonder, do any babies fit perfectly in these things? But, I digress.
Our girl is getting stronger every day. During tummy time this morning, she lifted her whole upper half up off the mat. She's getting good at finding her thumb for sucking too. She's happy about 98% of the time and when she's not, I'm sure it's my fault (I'm just prepping myself for when she's a teenager and loathes her mother). But really, she's the best thing since sliced bread, which, if you really think about, is pretty great and useful.
Kell's mom and brother are in town from Tacoma for a visit to meet our sweet girl. Uncle Nick is excellent at rocking her bouncy seat to put her to sleep and Grandma Sheila tells us things that daddy and Hannah have in common. Everyone agrees that she's beautiful. :)

Hannah turned one month old on July 30th and we wanted to post some updated pictures. She's growing up so fast. She's started to get a little bit of chub to her legs, but not much. She is sleeping longer at night (mostly 4 hour chunks) and she spends more time awake during the day. She is particularly alert in the morning around 9:30, and at night around 7:00. She's so much fun.
This was a busy weekend for us. We had the Sandy Relay for Life on Friday. We only stayed a couple of hours, but got to catch up with friends. Our friend Cody's daughters, Ava and Melody were so excited to hold Hannah.
Saturday was Tyler Ferguson's second birthday. For those of you who don't know, I met Ty's mom at work and we've been great friends since. We sometimes discuss an arranged marriage. Ty's little sister Olivia is just a few months older than Hannah and we know they'll be the best of friends. The party was lots of fun and it gave Hannah a chance to wear her new yellow sundress from Grandpa Frank. Isn't she pretty?
When Grandma Anna was here, she planted a Sweet Hannah rose. Well, because of all the heat, she's blooming already, sweet little off-white blooms. So delicate, just like our girl.

Well, since mommy and daddy never posted the final pictures of my nursery, I figure I better just handle things. So, here's where I lay my head...
Momma sewed the crib skirt and curtains because she's too picky to just buy something. She even appliqued bugs and flowers on the curtains to match my "spring meadows" theme. Daddy made the birdhouse lights. They're great for nighttime feedings, so it's not too bright. Daddy also re-purposed the changing table/dresser from the dresser that was his as a child. Good job, daddy. The crib, bed frame, and glider (momma recovered it) were all Craig's List finds. The beautiful art work on the wall was done by my ever so talented Aunt Jenn.
Daddy also made the bookcase with all my great books in it. The butterfly cluster on the ceiling were decorations at momma's baby shower and daddy put them up for me. And of course, daddy redid the pine floors because momma and daddy hated the carpet.
I think I'm pretty much the luckiest girl in the whole world. I love my room!
~Hannah

I know, I know, we haven't been posting. Well, see, we have a newborn, and that adds to the normal chaos around here. I will try to be more diligent.

At her two week appointment, Hannah weighed in at 6 lbs, 14 oz and was 19.25 inches long. That puts her in the 15 percentile for weight and 25 for height. Our teeny, little tater tot! If she keeps eating like she does, she'll shoot up the charts in no time.

Our little miss is three weeks old tomorrow. She has changed so much in three weeks.

Things she likes: The perfect tight swaddle that daddy does, dancing and singing to Pete Yorn with momma, tummy time (she's so strong), bathes, eating, and sleeping
Things she doesn't like: The car seat and pooping
Things momma and daddy like: Everything

Grandma has gone home now, and we sure do miss her. Thank goodness she left behind a freezer full of dinners (thanks for the recipes, Aunt Peg). Hannah misses her morning cuddles and I think Bella really misses all the extra walks. Kell and I miss our own personal gardener. :)


We are getting a pretty regular routine, which is fantastic. I won't call it a schedule, because she's just a tiny little thing, and we follow her more than she follows us. It works for us though. We're getting good sleep at night, and can even get things done during the day (I made blueberry jam while she napped yesterday).

Hannah Elizabeth was born at 11:26 on June 30th. She weighed 6 lbs 8 oz and was 18 3/4 in. long. She's such a tiny little peanut. She is teeny, adorable, sweet, cuddly, and infinitely entertaining (if you like watching sleeping babies' facial expressions, which we do). She is a good eater and sleeper and brings us so much joy.
Names she's been called so far: peanut, tater tot (Julia has referred to Hannah as food since she found out I was pregnant, including pickling cucumber and bratwurst), piranha (thanks to the lactation consultant), sweet girl (of course!), and Bella and Jillian (mom still calls Kelly "Terry" at least half the time).
Today, Kell was changing her diaper and announced it was a pee diaper. I said, "She hasn't pooped all day." And, as if on cue, diaper off, wipey in hand... squirt. That's our girl! Same sense of humor as mom and dad. I laughed so hard it made my incision hurt. It could just be sleep deprivation.
People have been requesting tons of pictures (we were in the hospital, people!), so daddy created a site just for Hannah's pictures. Enjoy!
Oh, and mom and dad are doing fine too!